#children of alana

[v-wendale]

update world map

You can read Children of Alana at Royal Road: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/45374/children-of-alana

Sofurry: https://www.sofurry.com/browse/folder/stories?by=758529&folder=91475

[boysr4breaking]

always struggling between complete disgust for men or disgustingly infatuated with the male species. god what’s wrong with me ?

[trashmagic-333]

me to the freaky gross pedophile men on this app and irl

[intricate-ritualz]

my fav hc of mine is that alana is an only child and has two gay, white dads and she loves them very much of course but she feels strange as a black woman growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood going to a predominantly white school a predominantly white church etc. she feels like she’s missing something. she feels homesick for a place she’s never known nostalgic for a friend she’s never met. and she loves her dads soso much but that doesn’t mean they have the ability to fill in the piece she knows she’s missing. “because i know what it feels like to be alone”

[sincerealev]

OHMG HI I love your deh fanart please feed me with some headcanons for my five bbs 😔🙏🙏

Hello!! Thank you so much, that means a lot <3 /gen

I've made some posts already with hcs of the sillies, you can find them here:

Evan hcs

Connor and Zoe hcs

Jared and Alana hcs

So, HERE'S MORE HEADCANONS THEN 😼😼

(ty to my awesome gf for helping me think of hcs cuz my mind was almost blank at the moment of writing this 😭🫶)

Connor helps Evan study for math tests, and Ev helps him with literature assignments in return <3

Evan constantly "steals" his boyf's clothes, and jokingly claims that there’s “an imaginary contract between them” that states that, the moment they started dating, Connor's clothes also became his

They enjoy watching horror movies together <33 (Connor got him more into horror movies). They'll have sleepovers a lot, and have horror movie marathons past midnight

"Hey, Ev... What if we watched [horror movie] and kissed during the scary parts? 🖤"

Their favorite horror movie to watch together is Scream (1996)

Alana and Evan are besties 🫶 Like, very close friends

Sometimes they'll have sleepovers, and Alana will tell him gossip about the school (which she's got a ton of). Even of people Evan doesn't know of, but he eats it all up 😭. But they'll also gossip about their crushes/partners,,

(before Evan and Connor started dating) Alana would sometimes give Connor advice to ask Evan out and stuff

And Zoe would give Evan advice on how to talk to and ask out Connor

Alana and Evan are library buddies, and during college they both got jobs at a Barnes And Noble

Zoe and Jared are one chaotic duo. They'll text and facetime a lot, sending each other memes, and also will plot different pranks to pull on their friends lol

All five have pets:

Evan has his golden retriever, Aspen, which I've talked about before 🫶, Connor has a white ragdoll cat, Winter, which I've also talked about... Alana has a bunny named Cocoa, Zoe has a ball python named after a Greek god (I always forget which one), and Jared has a tortoise named Sheldon (of course (also Sheldon turned out to be a girl lol) )

(more under the cut cuz this post is getting long)

Zoe and Jared will put their pets up against each other and have them race

Jared for some reason can do a near perfect Mickey Mouse impression 😭 And he likes using it all the time around his friends. For example...

Con: (after Jared said something that annoyed Connor) Kys.

Jar: [Mickey Mouse impression] Ohoh!! That wasn't very nice, pal! ☝️🐭

Zoe is also guilty of stealing clothes... She's stolen some of Jared's graphic tees, and is yet to return them 💔

The whole gang loves going to Alana's house, because the energy there is just perfect: All cozy, and feels like home. Alana's grandma is very fond of them all too <33 And will give them all delicious food and deserts when they go visit

Murphy twins headcanons!!! Zoe will sometimes read through Connor's diary, which he doesn't know...

The twins will pull pranks on each other a lot (their parents are already used to this)

One time, Connor put fake spiders in Zoe's bed while she was sleeping. That next morning wasn't very pleasant

Connor and Zoe will ALSO constantly steal from each other's closets; Lucky for them, they're very close in size

They love going to the mall together and being goofballs

On family road trips, the twins will always argue over who gets to control the music

Though they won't admit it to anyone or each other, everyone around them can tell they get along very well and love each other <3

Oh yeah... I don't remember if I've said this one before, but they also argue a lot over who was born first (they're both convinced it was themselves), but their parents have never told them because that'd just be fueling the fire more lol

Now for Evan and Zoe... They give each other music recommendations

Zoe will recommend music from Feeltwood Mac or TV Girl, and Evan will recommend Radiohead songs

Zoe treats Evan as if he was her own brother (where Zoe is the older sibling, obviously 🙄 (Evan is literally older))

Zoe will never grasp the concept of Evan and Connor being together. How can such a nice and polite guy like Evan be with such a mean old ogre like.. her BROTHER?? 😞

Since Evan is close with Alana, Zoe’s gayass will ask certain questions,, such as, “What’s Alana’s favorite candy?”

Jared and Evan hcs: Jared honestly considers himself to be part of Evan's family. They have a cousin type of relationship, and Jared honestly looks up to him (He’d never admit that)

They play video games at Jared’s house, and one of their favorite games to play is Cuphead (you know who is who. Evan's also VERY bad at that game, but he still enjoys playing)

There will be moments where they both geek out over something they both enjoy, like a new comic book series releasing or something

Evan will always be the first person Jared goes to for advice

From when they were younger, Jared had stolen multiple of Evan’s toys and to this day is YET to return them (they both forgot, obviously)

And finally, some more Treebros hcs to finish off:

Evan is often Connor’s “muse”, when he draws or paints (he's got MULTIPLE drawings of Evan, and when Connor shows them to him he gets very shy <3 But Evan is always VERY impressed)

Sometimes they go on late night drives and will park in empty parking lots,, and then kiss <3

Connor has convinced Evan to try shotgunning with him, and it was definitely an experience 🦋

Evan is obsessed with doing his boyfriend’s hair and styling it, he'll do ponytails or even braids

[lawandorderforevercsi]

Nova's First Day of Preschool

September 3, 2024, 9:30AM

Isobel and Jubal smiled. Nova’s teacher allowed them to be in the classroom to ensure that Nova settled in.  They had been in the school observing Nova’s teacher reading to them, and once they knew that she had settled in and made friends, they knew it was time to leave. Jubal kneeled down to Nova's height and hugged his littler girl as Isobel did the same as Isobel said to Nova, “Baby girl, Auntie Sam will be here later to pick you up, and then we will see you later tonight, okay?”

Nova said, hugging her parents, “Okay, mommy and daddy! I love you!”

Once they left the classroom Together, hand in hand, they walked out of the classroom and headed out of the school. It seemed like yesterday when their little Nova was a newborn baby, and now she was in school. Where had the time gone? Right now, the arrangement was that Nova would attend for ½ day and would stay with Sam until they could come to pick her up (unless they had a big case, then Nova would stay with Sam and Alan overnight). 

It began when Nova turned two. Isobel and Jubal started researching Manhattan's schools and had many factors to consider. Though the Big Apple had excellent schools, Isobel and Jubal worried more about safety, engaging academics, and their daughter's attention from her teachers. Having been unable to find a school that met their criteria, they decided to look in the suburbs. That was when Isobel and Juibal heard from Elise and Vanessa that they had moved to a town near Scarsdale. Elise decided it was better for Vanessa not to attend school in New York City. 

After broadening their search, they found a school in Scarsdale and realized there would be a commute. It would make more sense to go from Scarsdale to the City rather than the city to Scarsdale and then back to the town, which would be wasting time and money, not to mention gas. They searched, and it didn’t take long to find a house. The best part was the excellent schools and the preschool that was close by. Just as they had put in an offer and it was accepted, Robert got wind of it and helped them with the down payment. Isobel initially wanted to object but realized her father was trying to make up for lost time, which she suspected would go on for a while.  Next up was ending their apartment lease. While the super was sad to see the lovely family go, everyone knew it was time to move into a house where there would be more space for Nova to grow. Now, they were on their way home to get ready for work. 

When they arrived home to prepare for work, Isobel saw the board Nova had used for their first day of school photo. Isobel smiled as she remembered how Nova was super excited.

Three hours earlier, 6 AM

Jubal and Isobel were snuggled together. The last few cases were straightforward, meaning they were home early enough to be with their daughter (it could also mean they had a big case coming up). They were in a dream state when suddenly they felt their bed being thumped. They then heard Nova’s enthusiastic voice, “Mommy and Daddy, time to get up!”

Jubal and Isobel rubbed their eyes to wake up. When they were fully awake, they saw Nova jumping on their bed with a big smile. Soon, Jubal and Isobel were up and getting ready for the big event. After Nova had dressed and brushed her teeth, Isobel took a quick shower, and Jubal made Nova her favorite breakfast. Then, when Isobel was ready, Jubal took a shower while Isobel helped Nova with her first day of the school board.

What brought a smile to Isobel’s face was Nova's dream of becoming an FBI agent. Nova could have said, “I want to be a lawyer, just like Grandpa Robert.” But she said, “I want to be an FBI agent, just like Mommy and Daddy!”

Jubal put his arm around Isobel’s shoulder, and when he saw what was making his wife speechless, he smiled, too. They knew that now more than ever, they needed to work hard to protect all the innocent people from harm, including their intelligent surrogate niece Vanessa and their sweet little girl Nova.

[raythe-god]

Chapter 1 of Alana bloom X traumatized teen (Hannah ignores this :) )

AJ is a patient In a child's ward she is 15 and female.

The walls of the room are painted in a pastel pink. The floor is covered in a white sheet, while a desk and chair sit in opposite corners. There is a small window that allows a small amount of light it. The whole room is dim, as if they were trying to hide something. A young girl is huddled in the corner, with her knees pulled up to her chin and eyes closed. She’s wearing grey clothes, the shirt and pants looking slightly too large for her small frame. A psychiatrist, Alana Bloom, walks in, her face filled with concern.

AJ is rocking back and forth seeking comfort

Alana crosses the room to her, crouching down in front of her. "Do you know where you are, sweetie?" Alana says softly. The girl stays silent, still rocking back and forth. Alana gently grabs the girl's hands to stop her from moving.

The girl starts to freak out, pulling away from Alana and frantically crying. She’s trying to crawl into the corner behind her, sobbing loudly. Alana tries to calm her down, gently stroking her hair. "Hey, it's okay. You're safe here." she whispers. "No one is going to hurt you. My name is Dr. Bloom. Do you remember your name? What's your name?"

The girl sobs loudly.

"Hey, hey. Don't cry like this." Alana says softly. She tries to comfort the girl, but she’s not having any of it. She refuses to talk, continuing to rock back and forth while crying hysterically. The more Alana tries to soothe her, the more she panics. It has the feel of someone reliving some traumatic memory rather than someone who is simply sad.

Alana tries to take the girl's hands but the girl pulls away, screaming louder.

"Don't touch me! Don't touch me!" the girl cries out, still looking absolutely terrified. Alana, shocked by the child’s response, hesitates to respond. She’s confused and unsure of what to do.

Alana sits back, trying to figure out how to handle the situation. She looks into the girl's tear-stained eyes, feeling bad. She doesn’t want to cause any more distress but she is desperate to learn more about what the girl is experiencing. She decides to try a different approach.

Alana smiles gently as she stands up. "What's your name? Can you tell me your name?"

The girl shakes her head frantically. "No! No! No!" She shouts. "Don't take me back there!"

Alana is startled, she didn't expect such a strong reaction. "It's okay, you're safe." She says calmly. "No one is going to hurt you here. What's your name?"

The girl sobs harder, burying her face into her knees as she curls up into a ball. Alana is at a loss, frustrated that no matter what she says, the girl remains unresponsive. She sits back down, feeling hopeless.

After a few moments, she gathers herself and tries again. “It’s okay, it’s okay. You can trust me,” she says as she strokes her hair.

The girl suddenly looks up, her eyes filled with fear. “Don't hurt me, please ,No hurt no hurt"

"I won't hurt you," Alana says softly. "Can you tell me your name?"

The girl shakes her head, beginning to cry again. "I don't want to. I just want to go back!"

Alana looks concerned, but remains calm and gentle. "That's okay. It's alright. Do you know where you are?"

The girl shakes her head and curls into a ball again. Alana takes a deep breath, trying to think of a different tactic to get the girl to talk.

Alana leans in close, trying to offer some comfort. She strokes the girl's hair, trying to calm her down. She notices that she's shaking and hyperventilating.

With a soft voice, Alana asks the girl. "Can you tell me how old you are?"

The girl covers her ears, shaking her head and turning away. She's clearly very upset and can't seem to answer that question.

Alana takes a deep breath, feeling desperate. "How about... what's your favorite color?" she asks, trying a different approach.

She Shakes her head sobbing.

Alana is getting nowhere. She stands up, feeling defeated. She calls in a nurse to bring in a sedative, in case the girl can't be calmed. The girl just continues to rock back and forth in a fetal position while crying silently.

Alana sighs, feeling frustrated and concerned for the girl. Why won't she talk? What did she go through to make her terrified like this? She can't help but feel a pang of sadness, knowing that the girl must have experienced something awful.

The nurse arrives with the sedative, waiting for Alana's approval.

Alana thinks for a moment, feeling torn about the decision. She knows it's probably the best thing for the girl, but the whole situation is breaking her heart.

Finally, she gives the nurse a nod of approval, and the nurse approaches the girl with the sedative. Alana watches, hoping it won't traumatize the girl any more than she already is

As the nurse approaches, the girl starts resisting violently. She squirms and tries to get away, her fear and distress growing rapidly.

"Shh, it's okay," Alana says softly. "Sh--shhh."

The girl continues screaming and crying, trying to get away from both the nurse and Alana. She's terrified, but Alana holds her, trying to keep her as still as she can.

The nurse holds the sedative up, and the girl starts kicking at the air violently. She's crying, still screaming for them to leave her alone.

The nurse tries to hold her down as best she can, as Alana attempts to talk to the girl. "It's alright, it's alright. I'm here," she whispers. "Please don't fight, okay? It's all gonna be alright."

The girl continues to shout and kick violently, but Alana stays calm. She doesn't want to scare her more than she already is. She speaks slowly and gently, as if she were talking to a child.

The nurse gives her the sedative, but the girl just keeps screaming. She's terrified.

The nurse injects the sedative forcefully, as Alana continues to comfort the girl. She keeps speaking softly, trying to stay calm and soothing.

The girl stops kicking after a few seconds, and her body slowly starts to relax. The nurse moves her onto her back, and Alana strokes her hair. "It's okay," Alana whispers. "It's okay. Relax."

After a few moments, the girl is completely still, breathing deeply as the sedative finally takes effect.

The girl's body slumps in exhaustion, her breathing slowing and becoming more regular. Alana watches with relief as the girl finally calms down. She looks exhausted and scared, but also relieved.

Alana gets up, motioning for the nurse to do the same. It looks like the girl will fall asleep soon. "Give me a call if she wakes up," Alana tells the nurse. "I'll be in my office." The nurse nods and exits the room.

Alana turns back to the girl, watching her as she sleeps peacefully. She looks so fragile and traumatized.

The girl sleeps quietly, still looking scared, but seemingly more relaxed. As Alana watches her, her heart aches for her. She has no idea what the girl went through, but she seems to trust Alana. It's clear that she needs help. Alana's face is full of concern, but she decides to go back to her office for now.

In her office, Alana sits down at her desk and takes a deep breath. She feels helpless, not knowing how to help the girl, or how she can ever get the answers she needs from her.

Alana thinks about what to do next. She opens a file on her computer, reading through the girl's medical history. She tries to get some information about what's going on, but all of the notes are vague and unhelpful. There doesn't seem to be any diagnosis or treatment plan listed.

She tries calling the girl's parents or a guardian, to see if they can offer any answers, but she can't get ahold of anyone. The more she reads, the more frustrated and concerned she gets.

Alana paces around the room anxiously, trying to figure out what to do about this girl. She feels bad that she doesn't even know her name, or what caused her so much trauma.

She tries looking through other files and documents, trying to find any mention of this patient or her circumstances. She checks records from different hospitals, even trying to find information about her parents. Nothing. Not only is there no information for the girl, but there's no record of her even existing. There's no birth certificate, no driver's license, nothing at all.

Alana is baffled, puzzled by this mystery girl. How did she just appear one day, with no record anywhere of ever being born, or of existing at all? It's as if she stepped out of thin air, with no name, no life, no family. She might as well not even exist.

Alana continues searching through files, becoming more anxious and confused with every passing moment. She even tries searching for records of any missing children, or reported missing person's cases, but still, nothing.

Alana is at a loss. Where did this girl come from? She has no record of birth, no driver's license, no medical history. She doesn't even remember her own name.

Alana decides to go back into the girl's room, hoping that she's awake by now. She opens the door to find the girl sitting quietly on the bed, not making any noise, her eyes wide open.

Alana looks surprised to see the girl awake, but glad that she is. She walks toward the girl, hoping to finally get some answers.

The girl looks up at Alana when she enters. Her eyes are wide, like she's still afraid, but she doesn't try to run or act violent. She just stares, her eyes fixed on Alana, looking slightly relieved to see her there.

Alana smiles, trying to put her at ease. "Hello sweetheart," she says gently. "How are you feeling?"

The girl's eyes follow Alana, as if she recognizes her, but she doesn't say anything. She just stares, and Alana tries to talk to her again. "What's your name?"

"AJ"

"AJ?" Alana says slowly, sounding out the name. She looks at the girl, trying to understand. Does this girl even understand her? Why can't she communicate at all? At least this time, she isn't screaming or fighting back. That's a start.

Alana looks at the girl again, still uncertain. "Did you want me to call you AJ?" she asks kindly. She tries to offer a reassuring smile, to show the girl that she can trust her.

She nods.

"AJ." Alana says the name gently. "It's a very beautiful name. How old are you, AJ?" Alana asks, trying to get the girl to communicate with her.

AJ looks at her, tilting her head to the side. She doesn't say anything, but her eyes are studying Alana. Something is starting to click in Alana's mind, as she tries to understand the girl. Perhaps the girl only understands simple words and phrases. She’s going to try experimenting with more single-word questions, and see if the girl understands.

"15"

"Fifteen?" Alana says, sounding surprised. She looks at AJ, who nods her head slowly. AJ is fifteen years old, but she can't communicate beyond a few words. Alana tries to comprehend this information as she tries asking her another question.

"What's your last name, AJ?" she asks, trying to keep her voice soft and gentle. AJ studies Alana for a moment, then shakes her head. There seems to be no last name, either. What is going on here?

"No have" the girl replies.

Alana blinks, taking this in. No last name? It's like this girl doesn't exist. And yet, she's here. sitting in a hospital room. Alana is more confused than ever. She looks at AJ again, looking right into her eyes.

"How about your parents, AJ? Do you remember your parents?"

AJ stares right back at her, expressionless. "No have." She replies. It can't be that simple... right? Alana is silent, unsure how to proceed. She tries again, hoping to get more answers.

Alana raises her eyebrows, feeling even more confused. What does this girl remember? Who IS she? "AJ, do you remember how you got here? To the hospital?"

AJ still stares at her, but doesn't say anything. She shakes her head slowly, her eyes shifting everywhere but Alana's face. She's acting like she's in complete denial. Alana is losing patience, but keeps her voice gentle. A normal girl at her age should be able to talk to her about this. What's going on? Why can't she answer even the simplest of questions?

"Shouldn't be here" AJ states

"Sweetie, listen to me." Alana says, using her most soothing voice. The lack of information is making her desperate to know. "You should be in high school, making friends, living your life." She looks at the girl, hoping she’s getting through to her.

AJ's eyes are blank. She just looks back at her silently. She still says nothing, only looking confused and scared. Alana begins to worry that she might be too far gone to even communicate with her, let alone find out where she came from. What did this girl go through?

"Must go back to back go back"

Alana's eyes go wide, realizing that AJ is trying to tell her something. "Back where?" She asks. "Where do you want to go back to, AJ?"

AJ doesn't immediately respond, instead continuing to stare at Alana. Her eyes look more alert, and Alana gets the sense that she's been through something deeply traumatizing. It's possible she's not thinking clearly, only fixated on the idea of escaping this place.

"Not 'loud to say"

Alana's heart is beating louder. Does this girl know where she came from? Is she afraid of saying? Alana leans forward, desperate for any bit of information she can get from her. "AJ..." she urges the girl, trying to stay calm and gentle. "Where do you have to go back to? Where were you before this?"

"Not aloud to say if say bad bad"

Alana's heart is racing, but she's doing her best to act calm and soothing. She can't let AJ know how much she needs to know this information. "Sweetheart, nobody is going to get mad at you for telling me," Alana says softly. "You're not in any trouble, no matter what you say. You just need to tell me where you came from."

She looks at the girl, watching her closely. "Is it somewhere dangerous? Were you running from something...?"

"Dangerous? Yes danger danger"

Alana's heart skips a beat, feeling anxious but also relieved that AJ is communicating with her. Her mind is racing, trying to piece together the clues. AJ is clearly afraid of what might happen if someone finds out where she came from. Alana watches AJ, looking at the girl with concern.

"Okay AJ... listen to me. I know you're afraid, but nobody is going to hurt you." Alana says gently. "Do you understand?"

"They hurt hurt hurt"

Alana is getting more anxious, but she tries to keep it together and stay calm. "Who? What happened to you, AJ?" she asks gently. Her voice is soft, reassuring. "I'll do everything in my power to help you, but you have to tell me who hurt you." Alana tries to put herself in the girl's position- if she was this scared and anxious, would she still want to talk? Probably not.

Alana thinks for a moment, trying to think of another way to communicate with the girl. Maybe pictures would help...

"Bad people evil "

Alana thinks about the situation AJ is in, and an idea crosses her mind. She gets up and leaves the room for a moment, returning with a piece of paper and a pencil.

Alana walks back over to AJ and sits down next to her again. "AJ, listen to me. Can you draw me something?" Alana asks, looking at the girl. "I want you to draw someone you know. Someone from the place you just said you came from, okay?"

She draws what looks like the child assassin place that just got shut down.

Alana looks at the drawing, a bit surprised by the image. It looks like the sketch of the child assassin place that recently closed. Was that the place AJ came from?

She keeps looking at the picture, thinking about it for a moment. "Is this where you come from, AJ? This place?" It's possible that AJ's drawing wasn't accurate, or that the image is just an expression of how the girl felt when she was at the killer house.

Alana isn't sure what to think. She looks back at AJ, waiting for any kind of confirmation.

"Must go back and have to go back"

AJ's response makes Alana feel anxious. "Must go back?" She repeats, looking at the girl for clarity. "Why do you need to go back?" Alana asks, trying not to sound threatening.

There's a pause, as AJ continues to look at Alana. It's hard to tell what the girl is thinking about. Alana takes a moment to gather her thoughts, before speaking again. "AJ... it's gonna be okay. Please calm down, and let's try to figure this out, okay?"

"Must go back or bad"

Alana is a bit confused by this response, but she tries to stay calm. "What do you mean by 'back, or bad?'" Does AJ mean that she needs to go back or something bad will happen? Is someone threatening her? It's possible that her ability to communicate might be improving. She still needs to confirm this idea though, because this girl's behavior is making Alana more and more nervous maybe the girl is being threatened into keeping quiet.

"Killed if doesn't must go back"

Alana's eyes go wide, and her heart starts pounding. She's terrified of what this girl is saying, but Alana keeps a brave face and tries to stay calm.

"AJ..." She says slowly, "Do you mean someone is hurting you? Trying to kill you if you don't go back there?" Alana tries to wrap her mind around this information. "Sweetie, you don't have to go back. I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise."

"Have to "AJ looks genuinely confused.

Alana nods. She understands that the girl is still afraid, and probably still in shock from what happened to her.

"AJ, if there's someone threatening you, we can fix that," Alana says slowly, trying to give the girl reassurance. She doesn't want to scare her. "Whoever they are, we can make it so they can't hurt you. You just need to tell me who they are, okay? If you tell me, I can get rid of them, and keep you safe. You don't have go back there."

"What country?"

Alana blinks, caught off guard by the question. The girl is asking which country this all happened in? Alana realizes that she doesn't even know where the girl is from.

"Um..." She replies, pausing for a moment to think. "What country are you from, AJ?"

"Russia that why English no good "

Alana raises her eyebrows, finally understanding something about the girl. "Russia?" She confirms, sounding surprised. "Sweetie, you're from Russia, and you speak Russian?" The things AJ is telling Alana keep getting more and more bizarre. This girl is confusing, but Alana's heart goes out to her. She looks so lost and afraid.

She nods.

"So you're really from Russia?" Alana says slowly, trying to keep herself from sounding stunned. "Do you have family there? Parents? Are they the ones trying to hurt you, AJ?" Alana's mind is racing, trying to piece everything together. If AJ is from Russia, that explains why she's not registered in any database- the records don't exist. No birth certificate, no driver's license...

Alana thinks back to the drawing AJ made. It looked like the child assassin place they just shut down, but that was in the U.S...

"Me assassin me bad"

Alana can't believe what she's hearing. "You... were one of the assassins?" She says, taking a moment to let the answer sink in. She looks at the girl, looking at this child in front of her. Is it possible that she was a part of any of this? Alana isn't sure what to think. She knows that the girl is clearly traumatized, but it's becoming more and more clear. AJ's lack of communication isn't because she doesn't know how to communicate, it's because she's too traumatized to...

"Since 4"

Alana's eyes widen, taking in this new piece of information. "Since... since you were four?" She repeats, sounding surprised. The girl has said very little, but what she has said is more shocking than Alana imagined.

It's one thing if AJ's speech is affected by trauma, but the fact that she's been an assassin since she was a small child is unbelievable. Alana's mind is racing, trying to comprehend what she is hearing from the girl.

"I don't wanna hurt anyone else" she crys.

Alana is shaken by the tears. This poor, traumatized girl. Alana can't even imagine what kind of life AJ has lived up until now. It is no wonder that she is so scared.  

"AJ, you don't have to hurt anyone else." Alana says gently, trying to convey that she's here for her. "You're safe here." She looks at the girl for a moment, hoping that she might get through to her. "Come here." Alana says, gesturing for the girl to come closer.

AJ comes closer, and Alana hugs her tight. The girl is so petite, small and thin. Alana can feel how tense and afraid the girl is. AJ doesn't say anything else, just allowing herself to be held by Alana. The doctor doesn't let go, just holds the girl firmly, wanting the girl to feel safe and secure in her arms. She's going to make sure that this girl gets the help she needs.

"Safe"

"It's okay, AJ." Alana says gently, hoping that her soothing tone is comforting to the girl. After a moment, Alana releases the girl from the hug, but remains close by. "We'll figure this out, I promise." 

AJ stays close to Alana, and doesn't move away. Alana is glad that the girl isn't trying to run or hide again, which means she feels at least moderately comfortable with Alana. This is good progress. If AJ feels safe with her, it will make it easier to communicate with the girl and figure out what happened to her.

"Safe"

Alana can see that AJ is still tense and scared, but this is a new development. She feels safe enough to say the word "safe." This could potentially be the start of something bigger. 

Alana looks at the girl and smiles softly. "That's right, sweetie. You're safe okay? I promise." She pauses for a moment, wanting to try something. "Is it okay if I ask you a few questions?"

"O'ay"

Alana takes a deep breath, ready to help AJ as best as she can. She just needs to know what happened. 

"AJ, is there anything else you remember?" Alana says, trying to get the girl to tell her anything that might be helpful. "Please, anything that you can tell me? Do you know what happened to you, or if anyone else was involved?"

"Pain"

AJ's response makes Alana feel tense. The girl is clearly trying to communicate something important- she feels pain. "AJ, do you mean that you were hurt? Hurting you? Did someone hurt you?" It's possible that this girl is hiding a horrible secret, and Alana needs to find out everything she can about what happened to AJ.

"How we trained "

AJ's response terrifies Alana. The poor girl has had her entire life stolen from her. She was basically trained to be a killer since birth. Alana is beyond angry and confused... This girl's entire life is the result of abuse and manipulation. Was she taken from her family? Or was she raised with the intention of turning her into an assassin? 

Alana takes a deep breath, trying her best to stay calm. "AJ, who trained you? And how did they train you?" She says, trying to figure this out.

"Pain pain pain "

AJ's repeated response worries Alana, but the girl is clearly having a difficult time trying to talk about what happened. 

"Okay AJ, I get that you were in pain. I understand." Alana says slowly, trying to be as comforting as possible. "You don't have to say anything you don't want to. You're safe. Everything the doctors are doing is just to help you." 

There's a pause, as Alana looks at AJ. "Did you ever get to be a child?" she asks, wanting to see if AJ even remembers a normal childhood.

"No not aloud "

Alana's heart sinks. This girl is still so young herself, and she was forced to give up her entire life. Alana doesn't know who would do something like this to a child. 

"Did you ever have a mother? Or father?" Alana asks gently, hoping to find out if AJ ever had parents.

"Nono"

AJ's response worries Alana more. The girl doesn't remember anything but pain. This poor, traumatized girl. All she knows is pain and suffering. Alana tries to wrap her mind around that. Was that the only thing this child ever knew? If that's the case, then it's no wonder the girl is so traumatized and confused.  

"Okay, AJ," Alana says, taking a moment to think. "So, you don't remember anything before the training?"

She nods

Alana keeps looking at the girl, not sure what to say. Does that mean that no one ever showed AJ any kindness in her life before this? The poor girl's entire life has been stolen from her. Was it done intentionally, so that someone could use her for a purpose? Or did they just not care about how much pain she would be living in? 

Alana tries not to let her emotions show, keeping her voice steady and calming. She needs the girl to feel safe, and to know that it's okay for her to explain things.

pauses, looking at AJ for a moment "I wish I could take the pain away... I know it must be hard." Alana's voice is soft and sensitive as she speaks. "I promise to do everything I can to make sure that you never have to feel like this again, okay?"

"Ok"

Alana smiles slightly and pats the girl on the arm. It's clear that AJ is still scared and stressed, but at least she's starting to trust Alana. That is something to be hopeful about.  

"Sweetie, I know I've asked you a lot of questions already, and I know you don't know a lot. But I just need to know one more thing." Alana looks at the girl, wanting her to listen to what she has to say carefully. "Do you know anything besides pain? Do you remember anything else about your life?"

"Killing"

AJ's response is terrifying. This poor, traumatized girl had nothing in her life except killing? It's horrifying to think about. Alana takes a deep breath, still trying to process what the girl is saying. "So, your entire life was focused on killing? That's what you were trained for?"

"Yes"

The more Alana hears the more horrified she is. This girl never had any kind of childhood... She was basically trained to be a weapon. Something to be pointed at a target and told to fire. It breaks Alana's heart... How could anyone do this to anyone? 

"AJ, you understand that killing is wrong, don't you?" Alana asks, wanting the girl to confirm that she's aware that what she was doing was morally wrong.

She tilts head to side

Alana can't help but to chuckle slightly at AJ's response. The girl is still so innocent, despite everything she's been through. She may not fully understand the concept of good and evil yet. "Killing isn't a good thing to do, AJ." Alana says slowly. "It means to hurt someone enough to kill them, to take their life. Do you understand now, sweetie?"

"No?"

AJ's response breaks Alana's heart. This poor, traumatized girl doesn't understand that killing is wrong. She's so confused and lost... This girl's entire life was taken from her, and she has no idea what happened or why. Alana looks at the girl, wondering what else she can say that will get her to understand. 

"AJ, do you know what death is?"

"When they good people go sleep forever and bad go to hell?"

Alana can see that the girl has a lot of mixed up definitions of words. She is likely just repeating words and phrases she heard in passing, and may not fully understand the meaning behind what she's saying.  

"Sweetie, death is permanent." Alana says gently, "People who are bad go to hell after they die, and good people go to heaven." She's not sure if this is what AJ's religion taught her, but it's a simple enough concept. "So, we have to make sure that you don't hurt anyone anymore. Can you do that for me, AJ?"

"it good to kill if they bad"

AJ's response worries Alana. It sounds like the girl has been taught for a large part of her life that killing is okay, and that it's good to kill people if they are "bad". Alana is starting to get a better understanding of what the girl has been through. What has this girl seen? Who has been teaching her these things? 

Alana looks at AJ and tries to be patient. "AJ, who told you that it's good to kill people if they are bad?"

"Handler"

The girl mentions a "handler." This makes Alana's suspicions even stronger that the girl has been trained to kill. She was raised to believe that it was okay to take the lives of those she perceives as "bad". That's a terrifying thought.  

Alana looks at AJ, trying to understand what the girl knows. "AJ, what else did your handler tell you?"

"That I'm bad so when I no longer useful I must die too"

Alana's eyes widen. The implication of what AJ just said is shocking. This poor, traumatized, abused child has been trained to believe that she's bad, and that she will have to die if she's "no longer useful" to this handler. It is heartbreaking and terrifying. 

"Sweetie, you're not bad." Alana says slowly, trying to reassure the girl. 

"AJ, you have to listen to me, okay? This 'handler' is wrong and doesn't know what he's talking about. You're a good girl. You don't deserve to die."

"But handed said they are always right"

AJ's response makes Alana feel sick. Of course the girl believes that the handler is always right. She's never experienced anything else in her entire life. If her handler says that she deserves to die, then she has no other reason to think otherwise. This is a sad and heartbreaking situation. 

"No, you can't believe that, AJ." says Alana firmly. "The handler is wrong, and you don't deserve to die." 

AJ is just a child, one who has been through so much. Now, it's time to help her heal and recover through proper mental care.

"Oh"

Alana can see the doubt and confusion on AJ's face. The girl has been taught to believe whatever this handler has said. She is scared and doesn't know who or what to believe. 

"Sweetie, you need to trust my words." Alana says gently, trying to reassure the girl. "I am going to take care of you, I promise. The Handler is wrong, you do not deserve to die. I'm going to make sure that you are safe, okay?"

"Ok safe sounds good"

AJ's response makes Alana so relieved. The girl's entire life, she's only known violence, pain and suffering. To hear that she feels "safe" and is in a safe place, is so important.  

Alana keeps looking at the girl, making sure that AJ understands that she is safe with her. "Sweetie, you're safe with me, it's alright. No one is going to hurt you while you're here."

"Safe safe is safe good"

AJ keeps repeating "safe" and it warms Alana's heart. The girl is starting to understand that she's somewhere where she is going to be treated better than what she's had before. Alana hopes that this will help AJ to heal and begin to trust her, since she has never felt safe in all of her life. Alana tries to remain patient as she watches AJ. She hopes that the girl's trust will continue to build over time, and that she will eventually feel comfortable to tell her more about what she's experienced.

AJ's little smile makes Alana smile as well. She is so happy to see the girl begin to trust her enough to show her emotions, to smile and to feel safe. 

Alana takes a moment to look at the girl sitting in the chair in front of her. AJ is so small, so vulnerable. It's difficult to imagine how she could have experienced such terrible things, yet still have a sense of kindness inside of her. It says a lot about her, and Alana hopes that they are making progress.

"I wanna be safe"

Alana looks at AJ, seeing how sincere the girl is about feeling safe and wanting to be safe. It's touching and sad. 

"AJ, you are safe here with me. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you when you're with me, okay? "Alana says gently. "You'll be safe here. No more pain. "

"Safe no pain safe no pain"

Alana sees that the girl is still repeating the phrase "safe, no pain." She's clearly very scared, and feels a sense of comfort in saying this. Alana smiles gently and leans forward to place her hand on AJ's shoulder.

 

"There's no pain and safe with me, AJ. "Alana says, trying to reassure the girl. "You don't have to fight for your safety. You're safe now. "

"Safe now safe now"

Alana looks down at the girl, touching her hand gently. "You're safe now, AJ." Alana says again, "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. You're safe." 

"I am going to make sure that you are okay and that you are free from pain, AJ." Alana continues to reassure the girl. "You don't have to fight anymore. You're safe here."

"Pain free pain free"

Alana's heart goes out to the child. She clearly doesn't know how else to express herself, or how to say that she's been in so much pain and has been abused and hurt. AJ is finally safe now, but it seems like she's just trying to make sense of what has happened and to feel safe. 

Alana nods gently and smiles. "No more pain, AJ. No more pain."

"No more pain no more pain no more pain" stops... "Promise "

Alana nods, smiling at the girl. "I promise, AJ." Alana says, hoping to reassure her that she is finally safe. "No more pain." 

AJ's little smile is adorable, as she nods in response. It's so refreshing to see her acting like a child again, instead of being worried about having to defend herself.

She giggles and claps" safe no pain promised"

AJ's giggle and clapping makes Alana's heart melt. It's nice to see the girl still acting like a child, now that she's safe. Alana smiles and claps along with her, feeling happy that after everything the girl has been through, she is finally safe. She's free from the abuse, from the pain, and from this dark world she's been forced to live in. 

Alana has so much hope for the girl's future, now that she may finally feel safe and have a chance to make friends, and to just be a child. The girl deserves that.

Alana leans forward and kneels down to the girl's level, so she is face to face with her. "AJ, can you look at me please?" she asks gently. "It's important that you listen to me, because I need to tell you something." 

Alana makes sure that she has the girl's attention, and that AJ is fully paying attention to what she's going to say next.

She stops clapping and giggling and looks

AJ looks up at Alana, and that's when Alana takes a deep breath and looks at AJ with a gentle, but important look. "AJ, I know you've been through a lot in life, and I want to make sure you understand something." 

Alana looks at the girl and pauses, waiting for her to fully listen to what she has to say.

She Tilts her head

Alana leans forward a bit more, knowing that this is a conversation that AJ needs to pay attention to. "AJ, you're safe with me, okay? You don't have to worry about defending yourself, or killing or anything like that. It's not what I want you to do." 

"Sweetie, I need you to understand that the things the handler made you do were wrong." Alana continues, "You have never done anything wrong yourself, and you never deserve to die. Okay? That's what I want you to remember. "

"No death no die no die"

"Exactly, AJ," says Alana with a gentle smile. "There's no dying, no death. Remember this, okay? No matter what anyone tells you, that's what I want you to remember. Okay, AJ?" 

AJ nods, seeming to have understood what Alana has explained to her. "No death, no dying." AJ repeats. This conversation has been a big relief for Alana, because she knows that AJ is beginning to understand that she's safe.

Alana smiles at AJ and watches to see if the girl understands the conversation they had. "That's right, AJ. No dying, no killing. You're safe now, okay?" 

AJ nods, smiling slightly. She seems relieved and happy, and Alana feels happy that she was able to make the girl feel better. It's important that no one tells AJ that she deserves to die and to hurt others ever again.

"Safe"

Alana smiles as she hears AJ say "safe." This means that the girl understands what Alana explained to her, and that she is happy to feel safe. "Good, AJ. You're safe with me." 

Alana continues to look at the girl and waits for a moment to see if AJ has anything else to say or if she's finally ready to relax.

AJ smiles widely, still seeming a little bit on edge as she sits in front of Alana. The girl has been through so much trauma and hurt, she's been afraid of everyone and everything for so long that she has to adjust and learn how to trust. Alana still hasn't completely earned the girl's trust, but Alana is so happy that she was able to ease the girl's fears a little.

As Alana looks at the girl, her heart breaks even more. The girl's smile is adorable and sweet, but her eyes are filled with so much sadness and fear. It breaks Alana’s heart to see just how much this girl has suffered, and how innocent she is now. She's just a child and has been forced into a life of pain and misery. It's no life for a child. Alana just wants to take the girl in her arms and comfort her, telling the girl that she will be safe and okay.

She Curls up to Alana

Alana can see that AJ is still a bit afraid, and is seeking comfort in any way that she can. AJ is not a child who has ever been shown love and affection, so Alana is more than happy to give it to her. 

Alana looks at the girl and smiles, before leaning forward and placing her arms around AJ. The girl immediately curls up into Alana, and it warms her to see that AJ trusts her enough to feel safe enough to physically cling to her.

AJ keeps her head close to Alana and hugs her, seeking comfort in the woman's arms. Alana is happy to provide it. She watches as AJ continues to cling to her and look up into her eyes. The girl is finally starting to feel safe enough to relax, and Alana hopes that this is a big step towards AJ recovering from everything that she's been through. Alana smiles and rubs the girl's back, hoping to comfort her as best as she can.

AJ keeps her head pressed close against Alana and clings to her, seeming reluctant to let go. If the girl feels safe enough in her arms, Alana will let her stay there as long as she'd like. It's important for the girl to feel safe and to be able to heal, and if Alana provides a sense of comfort and security, then she will be happy to do so. 

AJ continues to cling to Alana, burying her face into her, refusing to let go. The girl is still deeply afraid and confused, but at least it feels good to be held.

AJ seems to be content with just staying this way, clinging to Alana and holding on for dear life. Alana just smiles at the girl and looks down at her. She may not have understood everything that Alana explained, and her trust might not be completely solidified, but AJ is finally finding a tiny bit of comfort and she seems grateful for it. Alana is happy to provide this comfort to the girl, and she wraps her arms around AJ and keeps the girl close.

AJ doesn't want to let go of Alana, and that makes Alana smile. The girl is just a child, looking for any bit of comfort she can find. This is the first time she's felt this close to anyone, and she's clinging to the feeling as long as it lasts.

Alana continues to wrap her arms around the girl and stroke her hair, hoping to make the girl feel as comforted as possible. She might not be able to completely trust Alana yet, but Alana won't stop trying to build that trust, and she's happy to provide this comfort.

AJ sighs and relaxes a little, having found some comfort and safety in the warmth of Alana's arms. She keeps her head pressed against Alana and closes her eyes, trying to take in this sense of serenity.

Alana can only imagine what the girl has been through to feel so relieved to be experiencing something as simple as being close to someone. The girl needs all the comfort and safety she can get if she's going to heal and to be able to learn how to trust again. Hopefully Alana can help the girl get that.

AJ curls her arms around Alana's back, clinging to the woman and enjoying the comfort she's found. She closes her eyes, finally just resting and enjoying the feeling of safety and security. 

AJ curls her arms around Alana's back, clinging to the woman and enjoying the comfort she's found. She closes her eyes, finally just resting and enjoying the feeling of safety and security. 

Alana continues to hold the girl, rubbing her back and running her fingers through her hair. It's a moment of peace and calm for the both of them, and Alana is happy that she was able to provide that for AJ. She hopes this will be the start of the girl recovering from everything she's been through, and the start of a new life for her.

The nurses come in

AJ is startled by the nurses coming into the room, and jumps away from Alana. The girl is immediately back to being alert and on her guard. Alana looks at the nurses and then back at the girl. 

"It's alright, AJ." Alana says soothingly. "It's just the nurses." 

AJ nods, still nervous, but she leans back against Alana's arms, seeking the comfort and safety that she felt before. Alana smiles and holds her close again. It was just a scare, and the girl can go back to feeling safe.

AJ leans back against Alana and continues to cling to her, seeming much more relaxed after being able to be close with Alana again. She still looks nervous, and Alana rubs AJ's back and speaks soothingly, wanting to make sure the girl stays calm. 

"There's nothing to be afraid of, AJ." Alana says, her attention still on the girl. "It's just the nurses. You're safe, okay?"

Alana smiles as she watches AJ cling to her and try to remain calm as the nurses enter the room. AJ is still very afraid of people coming near her, but Alana has earned her trust enough that the girl wants to stay near her even when she's nervous. 

Alana watches the nurses as they enter, making sure that they don't try to touch the girl or say anything to scare her off. She just needs to make sure that they don't do anything to make AJ even more confused and afraid.

She Grips tighter

AJ continues to cling to Alana, clutching the woman as she watches the nurses move about the room. The girl doesn't want to let go, and continues to feel safe in Alana's arms. Alana smiles and strokes the back of AJ's head, speaking sweetly and soothingly. 

"There's nothing to be afraid of, AJ." Alana repeats. "You're safe, I promised you that."

AJ nods and continues to grasp Alana tightly, her little eyes blinking rapidly as she looks at the nurses in the room with her and Alana. She's afraid that in a split second, something will happen and she'll be hurt again, or forced to hurt someone else, like the handler did to her. 

Alana strokes AJ's hair and speaks gently to her. "Nobody is going to hurt you, AJ. You're safe. Okay?"

She's still on guard

AJ continues to look around with a nervous look on her face, her hands still clutching Alana tightly. The girl seems to feel a little bit more comfortable being held by the woman, but she's still on her guard and watching her surroundings for anything that might scare her. 

Alana smiles and keeps talking soothingly, rubbing AJ's back and speaking gently. "It's okay, AJ. Everything is alright. You're safe and nobody is going to hurt you."

Aj nods, trying to focus on Alana's voice instead of what's going on around her. The girl is so used to feeling fear and having to defend herself, that it is very difficult to relax and feel safe. But Alana has her in her arms, and it seems like AJ trusts her enough to try to relax a little bit. Alana can just keep talking to try and keep AJ focused on her and feeling safe and protected.

AJ slowly relaxes and calms, her grip on Alana becoming less tight. The girl closes her eyes for a moment and sighs, seeming to be a little less on her guard. She is finally beginning to trust that she is safe with Alana, and that she won't harm her. 

Alana smiles and strokes AJ's hair, glad to see the girl finally relax, even if it's just a little bit. AJ deserves to have moments of peace and calm, and Alana is glad she is able to provide that for her.

AJ eventually lets go of Alana and relaxes even further. She looks up at the woman, smiling slightly at her. The girl is beginning to trust Alana more and more, and it's a significant step towards helping her heal. 

Alana is happy that AJ is finally beginning to feel safe and trust her, even if it's just a little bit. She knows that it will take time, but it's a good first step. The girl can finally begin her road to recovery and healing, and Alana will be there to help her.

[reasonsforhope]

Flint, Michigan, has one of the [United States]'s highest rates of child poverty — something that got a lot of attention during the city's lead water crisis a decade ago. And a pediatrician who helped expose that lead problem has now launched a first-of-its-kind move to tackle poverty: giving every new mother $7,500 in cash aid over a year.

A baby's first year is crucial for development. It's also a time of peak poverty.

Flint's new cash transfer program, Rx Kids, starts during pregnancy. The first payment is $1,500 to encourage prenatal care. After delivery, mothers will get $500 a month over the baby's first year.

"What happens in that first year of life can really portend your entire life course trajectory. Your brain literally doubles in size in the first 12 months," says Hanna-Attisha, who's also a public health professor at Michigan State University.

A baby's birth is also a peak time for poverty. Being pregnant can force women to cut back hours or even lose a job. Then comes the double whammy cost of child care.

Research has found that stress from childhood poverty can harm a person's physical and mental health, brain development and performance in school. Infants and toddlers are more likely than older children to be put into foster care, for reasons that advocates say conflate neglect with poverty.

In Flint, where the child poverty rate is more than 50%, Hanna-Attisha says new moms are in a bind. "We just had a baby miss their 4-day-old appointment because mom had to go back to work at four days," she says...

Benefits of Cash Aid

Studies have found such payments reduce financial hardship and food insecurity and improve mental and physical health for both mothers and children.

The U.S. got a short-lived taste of that in 2021. Congress temporarily expanded the child tax credit, boosting payments and also sending them to the poorest families who had been excluded because they didn't make enough to qualify for the credit. Research found that families mostly spent the money on basic needs. The bigger tax credit improved families' finances and briefly cut the country's child poverty rate nearly in half.

"We saw food hardship dropped to the lowest level ever," Shaefer says. "And we saw credit scores actually go to the highest that they'd ever been in at the end of 2021."

Critics worried that the expanded credit would lead people to work less, but there was little evidence of that. Some said they used the extra money for child care so they could go to work.

As cash assistance in Flint ramps up, Shaefer will be tracking not just its impact on financial well-being, but how it affects the roughly 1,200 babies born in the city each year.

"We're going to see if expectant moms route into prenatal care earlier," he says. "Are they able to go more? And then we'll be able to look at birth outcomes," including birth weight and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions.

Since the pandemic, dozens of cash aid pilots have popped up across the nation. But unlike them, Rx Kids is not limited to lower-income households. It's universal, which means every new mom will get the same amount of money. "You pit people against each other when you draw that line in the sand and say, 'You don't need this, and you do,' " Shaefer says. It can also stigmatize families who get the aid, he says, as happened with traditional welfare...

So far, there's more than $43 million to keep the program going for three years. Funders include foundations, health insurance companies and the state of Michigan, which allocated a small part of its federal cash aid, known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

Money can buy more time for bonding with a baby

Alana Turner can't believe her luck with Flint's new cash benefits. "I was just shocked because of the timing of it all," she says.

Turner is due soon with her second child, a girl. She lives with her aunt and her 4-year-old son, Ace. After he was born, her car broke down and she was seriously cash-strapped, negotiating over bill payments. This time, she hopes she won't have to choose between basic needs.

"Like, I shouldn't have to think about choosing between are the lights going to be on or am I going to make sure the car brakes are good," she says...

But since she'll be getting an unexpected $7,500 over the next year, Turner has a new goal. With her first child, she was back on the job in less than six weeks. Now, she hopes she'll be able to slow down and spend more time with her daughter.

"I don't want to sacrifice the time with my newborn like I had to for my son, if I don't have to," she says."

-via NPR, March 12, 2024

[aflamboyanceofflamingos]

Bruce: Tim, your turn, what’s your New Year’s resolution?

Tim: It has come to my attention that some people view my absolutely hilarious self deprecating jokes as concerning, so I’ve elected to redirect that hatred…

Bruce, under his breath: thank god

Tim, as he goes into his supervillain pose: To being more mean to others

Jason, as he laughs at Bruce putting his head in his hands: That’s brilliant, I want to change mine

Dick: From ‘Making more people uncomfortable with jokes about my gruesome death’?

Tim: Moving on, I plan on getting a head start on my resolution. Duke, does Ms. Prauss still teach?

Duke: The chem teacher? I don’t have her but from what I’ve heard from my friends she sucks

Steph: SHE DOES! Oh my god she was so sexist- she would yell at the girls for the littlest things but let the boys obviously cheat-

Babs: She was even worse when I had her!

Duke: My French teacher is the exact same way!

Cass: Mr. Lovegood? He’s like the best

Duke: No, he was great, we got a new one and she doesn’t even have a teaching license and we know more then she does-

Luke: That was just like Mr. Goldhorn, could not teach and always stuck me with this one guy who couldn’t get a single lab right- We were in AP Physics

Tam: Wait Tim, Steph, I think she was in your year- Do you know Alana-

Steph/Tim: OH MY GOD-

Bruce, Gordon, and Lucius as they watch their children shit-talk various teachers and classmates from highschool for a full hour: I don’t know why I expected this to go well

Tim, very happy with himself: :)

[agendabymooner]

the problem with following orders ! mark w. x ofc (vettel!ofc)

summary: in 2013, the famous multi 21 situation occurred at the malaysian grand prix. at the beginning of 2014, sebastian vettel’s sister - who was a popular figure in uk - was seen going on a date with his former rival. OR lydia ‘liddy’ vettel was finally married to mark webber after his many attempts of proposals and her three pregnancies to their beautiful children.

content warning: “sistergate”, use of explicit language, age gap (no specific age), brother!sebastian vettel, multi 21 references (this is literally the plot and the joke), little mix references (ofc is a member), dilf!mark webber, briefly mentioned zayn malik

note: whoever put mark webber in my head needs to go to jail. enjoy xx

a - n masterlist

o - z masterlist

tagged aussiegrit

liked by lewishamilton, oscarpiastri, danielricciardo

comments have been limited

jadethirlwall MRS. WEBBEEEEER !!! 😩 liked by lydiavet

leighannepinnock i should’ve stolen you and the kids from him when i had the chance 😭 liked by lydiavet

lydiavet i wouldn’t have opposed to that 😶

jensonbutton i’m surprised sebastian didn’t object 😂 liked by lydiavet

lydiavet it was a good idea you’ve taped him on the chair, jens 🥰

oscarpiastri finally 🙏 liked by lydiavet

landonorris MISSUS WEBBAH 😫 liked by lydiavet

sebastianvettel so happy for you sister 🙌 liked by lydiavet

jensonbutton no you’re not 😂 when you first found out they were dating the first thing you said was “i wish he was dead”

lydiavet and the first thing you told me was “you need to get your head checked” 😂

aussiegrit and you said “i'm gonna kill you, webber”

aussiegrit luckiest man in the world ❤️ liked by lydiavet

lydiavet i love you so much 🫠❤️

the webber girls

margot alana

maude amelia

lucy georgina

[hughiecampbelle]

Charnel House (Will Graham x Sibling!Reader)

Character/s: Will, Jack

Word Count: 1,284

Inspired By: I've Been Dying by Deadbeat Girl

A/N: I absolutely love sibling dynamics!!! I still don't know a lot of Wills past or upbringing, so I kept things pretty vague, but the idea of him being a protective older brother is too sweet not to write! So sorry it's off schedule! I was so stumped with what to write and then the idea came this morning :) Anyways, enjoy my loves!!! Feedback is always appreciated!!! ❤🥩❤🥩❤🥩❤🥩❤🥩❤🥩❤🥩

WRITING EVENT ❤️🔪🩸

Young, Will thinks, you are too young for this. Crime scene tape. Massacred families. Blood splattered walls. Small pools of red beneath their heads dripping, dribbling, down the dining room table. Pale skin. Wide eyes. You follow him like you did when you were children, close behind. Bumping into him, stepping on his heels, apologizing quietly. He resists the urge to grab your hand, squeeze it, and remind you to look both ways before crossing the street. He resists the urge to hold you back, shield your eyes, pretend like this is all one bad dream. It’s not. Beside him Jack Crawford. Next is Bev, Price, Zeller. Countless nameless faces in and out of frame. Trailing one another. Jack says something he cannot understand, his attention focused on you. You get that look in your eyes, where your pupils grow big and you get this million yard stare. What do you see? He wants to ask, but remains silent. You are not a baby in this room. You don’t need his guidance or protection. You are a guest, neither FBI nor teacher, but help nonetheless. You are working. He must remind himself you are here as equal. Perhaps not an equal, perhaps your pedestal is taller than his. He glances back at his coworkers, friends he’d say if he were stretching the truth, all of them smirking, laughing at something obviously inappropriate. He tries to smile along, to pretend, but the effort is futile. When he searches behind him you are gone. 

He’s not sure how the topic came up. Was it in therapy? Rattling off anecdotes of his youth. A crucial piece of himself is coming up. Without it, the story would be incomplete. Or, was it in passing? To Be or Alana, both is a possibility. His “gift” is neither special nor worth talking about. Not when his baby could do so much more. Stories of your childhood. Disorganized, without linear time. You are in your pajamas, so small, so scared. Crying to him about a man hanging in your closet. Another monster under the bed. Old houses, with creaky floorboards and white-haired women. Running through the hallways, your feet patting against the thick runners, screeching and giggling. Playing. Not with imaginary friends, like the women laughed. With the dead, he wants to correct, but bites his tongue. You’d been able to see them all of your life. Some are more eager than others. The children are the most trusting. People who went peacefully. Others are harsh. Vengeful. Stitching their existence to you. Unable to shake them off. Seeing them. A young woman in the bathtub, her wrists open. Splashing in the bubbles, in the red only you could see. Finding yourself wandering through fields, through trees to unmarked graves. Begging to be believed. Both of you. Someone suggested your name. Startled, his worlds colliding, his words stern. No one listened though. Each of them wary, disbelieving, and yet so desperate. He makes the call, afraid their voices, their words will somehow taint your world. Somehow they will turn you into him. 

The killer elusive. Skilled, capable, and thoughtful. Massacring entire families. They’re not innocent, though. There are always secrets keeping them together. It’s the daughter you see. Not exactly intact. Her wounds bleeding, her dress stained, though she does not react to it. They rarely ever do. Up the stairs she leads, moving through various officers. Opaque, and unfortunately very real, you squeeze past them, trying your best not to disrupt their investigation. Loony, you heard one say to the other in a low voice. This is not the first time you’ve had someone doubt you in this way. It would not be the last. At first wanting to play. A massive dollhouse sits in her room. A family much like hers lays scattered across the rug. Bodies face down. Joints bent in inhumane ways. When you look inside, it matches the very house you’re standing in. Beaming, you compliment her. It was lovely. The wallpaper from her room pasted across the walls of the toy. Her replica sits on her bed waiting to be played with. She moves to the window where she points to a swing set. It must've been built when she was a baby. After all these years, these snowy winters, it moves in the wind. Unstable, but loved dearly. A swing for her and her brother, never forced to share. Enough to go around. A slide and monkey bars. Scenic, you think. Familiar and yet so foreign.

Reaching out, attempting to grab your hand, she leads you out, down the stairs. The scene has been cleared. Only your brother stands in the dining room. He does as he has been trained to. This ability described to you dozens of times. He feels himself pull out the gun. Aim it at each of them. You want to watch, but she insists, eager to show you. You disappear into the kitchen where a set of stairs leads to the basement. Neither the son nor the parents make themselves known. You’ve been tricked before. And yet, you trust her. There’s no way to explain it. And so, you follow. Unfinished, it sits with dirt floors and cold, concrete walls. Above you, Will's footsteps move across the room. You can trace his path. The girl urges you forward. A washing machine and dryer sit behind an open doorway. She moves past it though, further. A small hole carved into the wall. Small. Too small. Tugging at a board placed over it until it falls to the floor. Right away you smell something familiar. It’s a scent you’ve grown accustomed to. Something rotten. Rotting. Just a little, though. You come to realize the body is mostly gone. She points and you follow with your gaze. A skull. Next to it, a rib cage and spinal cord. Most of the outer flesh decayed, sunken into the dirt, but small parts remain. She stares at you, trying to read your expression. This is what the killer knew. Punishing her family for taking a life. Hiding the body. Thinking they could get away with it. 

You call for Will, your voice steady and unafraid. He comes running. So does everyone else. When you turn back to thank her, this little girl, innocent alongside her brother, she is gone. There is a second body further back, but you came without a flashlight. They question you, your knowledge, but Will comes to your defense, eager to shut down their accusations. Bev compliments you, says the whole Graham family is skilled in this department. You shrug it off, trying to hide your smile. Everyone knew about your brother, amazing and skilled. Few gave you the same credit. Whoever they were, they knew about the bodies in the basement. Thinking of themself as a vigilante of sorts. A killer of killers. Before you leave, you check the backyard, hoping to see her on her swing. It moves gently from the wing, back and forth, snow piled a few inches high on the seat. Jack congratulates you on your work. Neither you nor your brother have explained exactly what you can do to him, not exactly, and he does not insist on answers. Whatever you do, whatever the both of you do, it helps in the long run. Will hopes this collaboration will be a one time thing. Let you go back to your life unscathed. Unharmed. Already there is talk of another case, another murder. You don’t mind. You get to work with Will. You get to understand the dead. Help them in ways you’re typically forbidden from. Meddling, they used to say. Now you were of value.

[v-wendale]

Map of the wolrd for Children of Alana some detail are subject to change in the future

https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/45374/children-of-alana

[honeygrahambitch]

"Name your children after your favorite things"

Me: good night "the subplot from Paragon where Alana gives Will's dogs up for adoption and then Will hates her in a petty way for the rest of the story"

[marie444girlblogger]

────୨ৎ────

Here is a little about me!!

(I yapped a lot)

My name is Marie😝😝

I’m Mary Lisbon’s age and I’m from the Netherlands.

My favorite artist is Lana Del Rey and my top albums are Ultraviolence, Honeymoon, and Blue Banisters (Ultraviolence is always no.1 but the rest usually changes) !! My fav Lana unreleased songs are Your girl, put me in a movie, raise me up, children of the bad revolution, live or die, moi je joue (but again, it always changes)

I also love Mazzy star, Ethel Cain, Fiona Apple, Jeff Buckley, Hole, Deftones, Mitski, etc.

I LOVE Letterboxd and anything movie related. My fav movies are Black swan, La La Land, Amelie, Coraline, Priscilla, Mr Fantastic Fox, Corpse Bride, Palo Alto (the list is endless)

My fav books are the book theif, my year of rest and relaxation, Emma, animal farm, twilight, and the shatter me series!!

My icons are LANA DEL REY, ANNA KARINA, Alana Champion, Lily Rose Depp, Taylor Russell, Anya Taylor Joy, Sharon Tate, Natalie Portman, Brittany Murphy, Cindy Kimberly.

I love fashion!! My dream is to be a fashion journalist. My fav models are Tanya Dziahileva, Snejana Onopka, Kate Moss, Ruslana Korshunova (rip), Anok Yai.

My celeb crushes: LORENZO ZURZOLO, Hayden Christensen, Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, and James Franco!!

My favorite season is Autumn and Winter (winter has my heart) and my favorite colors are light pink and dark red

I will post lots of random things onto this account such as girlblogs, random thoughts, poetry, etc!!

Also if I don't follow back you can message me privately and ask to be mutuals!!

Please be kind

Thank you🤭💗💗

────୨ৎ────

[menciemeer]

Sometimes I think about Louise Hobbs for too long and start going a little crazy.

Garret Jacob gets all the attention on the show. Abigail gets it from fandom. The absence of Louise is almost invisible. She’s not there. We don’t think about her.

We don’t think about her, of course, because she’s not in canon in the first place. She has no lines. Her name is not mentioned in dialogue. She only barely appears on camera.

Here is Louise Hobbs alive and well. Striking about this bit, once I was looking at it: she doesn’t look towards the camera, she doesn’t look towards her family members, and her family doesn’t look towards her. They move around one another and don’t directly interact. Look at it: Abigail and Garret Jacob Hobbs are communicating, here, in a way that she’s entirely cut off from.

(And, ok, listen, I’ve gotta sidebar. Even before Abigail actually picks up the phone, GJH is keeping track of where she goes. There are no clear frames of this tiny interaction, but look:

he’s keeping tabs on her. The minute she moves, he’s checking over his shoulder to see what she’s up to. By contrast, he doesn’t look at his wife even once.)

(One other thing about this tiny little scene of them playing house. GJH has absolutely no chill. He is tense and intense even before he gets on the phone. It’s not really possible to tell what Abigail is thinking through all of this--we know from later that she’s a pretty good liar--but Garret Jacob Hobbs is not subtle. He’s jumpy as fuck, and he’s probably that way all the time.)

Continuing.

The next time we see Lousie, she’s being shoved out the front door. Think about that. GJH didn’t kill her immediately. He’s not interested in seeing her dead. He’s using her to buy time in the kitchen with Abigail because he knows he doesn’t have any left.

The way I remembered Louise dying was with a cut to her throat, but look at it. She’s got wounds on her arms, on her torso. He wasn’t careful, or quick. He didn’t hold out his hand to her and ask her to come closer. He attacked her, shoved her out the door, and slammed it behind her.

That is the end of Louise Hobbs.

Hobbs family dynamics just. Absolutely fascinate me. (Too much.) I so desperately want to know what it was like to be Louise Hobbs. I want to know how much she knew, how much she suspected, and how much she refused to let herself understand. She’s the cannibal the show cares about the least. She’s the one who dies so that someone else can have a little more time.

The show constantly returns to the idea of murder as a way to break or make families. Besides the Hobbs family, there’s the children and foster mother from Oeuf, Gideon killing his wife in backstory, Lawrence Wells who killed his own son, Margot and Mason, and of course Dolarhyde’s obsession with killing families together. Louise Hobbs’s is a murder to break a family. She is, very literally, cast out.

We do see her one last time:

It’s interesting that, when Abigail sees this, Alana is the one who becomes her mother. Whatever you want to say about the long-term feasibility of the Murder Family, it’s indisputable that Hannibal was never interested in planning a future with Alana. She’s there nearly by accident. Holding a place meant for Will. She is not part of the plan.

If Abigail mourns for Louise, she does it off-screen. We see flashbacks to her interactions with Garret Jacob, but, after this, Louise never returns. We’re left to wonder, or to forget, all on our own.

[storiesforallfandoms]

we have to stop meeting like this ~ eminem

word count: 3465

request?: yes!

“hi!! love your work :) can you do a fem reader x eminem where they are both on vacation at the same resort, but don’t know each other yet. they keep running into each other throughout their vacation and he finally decides to ask her to get dinner and they hit it off and he knows immediately she’s special and he’s going to be with her for a long long time. thanks xxx”

description: he never expected to meet someone on this vacation, but things have a funny way of happening sometimes

pairing: eminem x female!reader

warnings: swearing

masterlist (one, two, three)

Marshall was a workaholic. Everyone in his life knew that. He was always “on”, so to speak, and very rarely gave himself any actual breaks.

But after his two daughters had gotten engaged, and his youngest child had graduated from high school, Marshall realized that life was too short to be spending all of his time on work. He decided to take the time he had between albums and actually have a proper break - a vacation with his family.

He set everything up: a week long vacation in the Dominican for himself, his three children, Hailie and Alana’s fiancés, and Nate and his wife and their kids. He had even invited Kim to come along if she wanted, thinking it would be good for the kids to have both of their parents together, acting civil, during the first real family vacation they had been on in a long time, but she declined the invitation.

Marshall set up so that everyone had their own rooms, even Stevie, as he felt it would be way less awkward for the everybody than sharing one or two rooms between 10 people, especially for the three couples.

It was an unbelievably beautiful day when they arrived. Hailie and Alana were immediately enthralled by the idea of going to lay by the pool and enjoy the sun, and Nate’s kids were already energized by the idea of getting to play in the pool all day. Marshall was just excited to get into an air conditioned bedroom. From the moment they stepped off the plane he realized he made a mistake by wearing black jeans and a black hoodie, and not bringing a change of clothes in his carryon to change into when the plane landed. By the time they arrived to the resort they were staying in, he was dripping in sweat.

The feeling of the cool resort lobby was a welcoming one as he walked in to check in. There was one person by the front desk, a young man who was on the phone as Marshall arrived. At first, it seemed the young man wasn’t paying attention, so Marshall tapped on the bell on the front desk to draw the attention to him. The man’s gaze flickered over at him for a second before returning his full attention to the phone call. The action surprised Marshall, and he went to tap the bell again before a voice cut him off.

“That’s pointless. He’s not going to respond.”

Marshall looked over to see a woman stood beside the counter, leaning on her suitcase with another, smaller bag tossed by her feet.

“I’ve been waiting for 10 minutes to check in,” she continued. “He’s too deep into whatever that phone conversation is to answer.”

“There’s no one else working?” Marshall asked.

“Apparently not. I asked if anyone else could check me in, but he just ignored me.”

“Well, that’s unprofessional.” Marshall turned back to the man and said, “Listen, I have nine other people waiting to get to their rooms so they can go out and enjoy the weather. Is there anyone else who can come and check us in?”

The man held up his index finger, signaling “one moment”, before turning to the computer in front of him.

“10 people? Damn, you must’ve brought the entire family,” the woman joked.

Marshall chuckled. “I basically did. It’s me, my three kids, two of them are engaged so their fiancés are with us, and then my brother, his wife, and their kids.”

She whistled. “Wow, you really did bring the entire family. Makes me feel lonely just being here by myself.”

“There’s nothing wrong with a solo vacation. I just haven’t been able to take my family on a vacation in a while because of...work. Trying to make it up to them now.”

“Well, taking all of them to a Dominican resort would definitely be making it up to them in my books.” She moved from her suitcase to extend a hand to Marshall. “I’m (Y/N), by the way.”

“Marshall. It’s nice to meet you.”

Their introduction was cut off by the sound of a hushed argument. They both turned to see that another employee of the resort had appeared and was very clearly chastising the man at the desk in a hushed voice. Their argument was brief before the new employee angrily dismissed the man, then plastered a customer service smile on his face and turned back to (Y/N) and Marshall.

“I am so sorry for the inconvenience, you two,” he said. “Seems my colleague thought to take a phone call for a reservation over checking in guests. May I help the two of you check in?”

Marshall turned to (Y/N) and gestured for her to go first. “You were here before me.”

“Thank you.”

Marshall waited patiently while she gave him her name and information on her stay. It took this new employee - who, judging by the difference in his uniform versus the employee who had been here before, was a manager - mere seconds to find (Y/N) in their system and to give her a keycard for her room. He apologized again for the wait while (Y/N) turned to walk away.

She looked back at Marshall and waved before making her way to the elevator. Marshall watched her go until the elevator doors closed around her, cutting the two of them off finally.

“Sir?”

Marshall snapped out of his trance and approached the front desk to get check in. In the same speedy manner, the manager had found his reservation, assigned him five separate rooms, and had five cards scanned and passed to him. Marshall thanked him, waving away another apology, and went back outside to find his family.

“That took you long enough,” Hailie teased when she saw him approaching.

“Front desk issues,” Marshall said, passing them their keycards. “I figure we take it easy for this first day, but if you guys want we could check out their restaurant for dinner tonight. I caught a glance at it while I was waiting and it looks a lot fancier than some of the restaurants back home.”

Alana chuckled. “Everything here is gonna be fancier than back home, dad.”

They all agreed to the plan and went in to get changed from their flight. They were all on the same floor, but each room was separated by quite a bit. Marshall’s was at the end of the hall, luckily near the ice machine. He almost felt like taking the ice and shoving it into his hoodie and pants at this rate. Anything to get rid of the intense heat.

He quickly peeled off his sweaty clothes and tossed them to the side. The air conditioning was on full blast and he sighed with relief as he felt it against his bare skin. The room came with a mini fridge, which was already stocked with multiple beverages, including several bottles of water. Marshall grabbed one and chugged half of it almost immediately.

After cooling down enough that he thought he could handle the heat, he grabbed a pair of shorts to put on and took a towel from the bathroom to take with him by the pool. He decided not to take a shirt with him. The less clothes he could get away with, the better.

When he stepped out of his room, there was someone at the ice machine. He glanced at them for a moment, not thinking anything of it, until he did a double take and saw that it was (Y/N). She looked up from her ice bucket and smiled as recognition crossed her face.

“Hey,” she said. “I see you got checked in alright.”

“Yeah, that guy was a lot more efficient than the one before him,” Marshall said. “Are you on this floor, too?”

She shook her head. “Next floor up. This is the closest ice machine apparently. So, I gotta hope the ice doesn’t melt by the time I lug it up the stairs back to my room.”

He noticed her eyes wandering to his naked torso, his collection of tattoos on display. She tried to make it seem like she hadn’t been looking, which made Marshall smirk.

“Going down by the pool?” she asked.

“Yeah, gotta soak up as much of the sun as I can before I can’t anymore.”

She nodded. “Cool...yeah...maybe I’ll - uh - see you down there.”

“Maybe you will.”

She nodded again, almost like she was unsure of what else to say. They both awkwardly excused themselves to go their separate ways again. Marshall had to fight the urge to look back at her as he walked towards the elevator again. She had definitely been checking him out, but he couldn’t lie and say he hadn’t been checking her out, too. Actually, he had been stealing glances at her since they met in the lobby. She was absolutely gorgeous, wearing a floral sundress and a pair of light sandals, her toenail polish matching her fingernail polish.

He shook his head to snap out of his thoughts as the elevator door opened. He had only just met the woman, he couldn’t be thinking about her so intensely already. For all he knew, he would never see her again once their vacation ended. She would be another memory tied to this week in paradise he had planned.

Hailie and Alana were already by the pool when he arrived. The area around the pool was full of people, but there was enough room that it didn’t feel jam packed. Most of the other visitors were in the pool, enjoying the cool water and the drinks they had in their hands. Nathan was sat by the edge with his legs in the water as he watched his kids playing around. Marshall pulled a chair up next to Hailie and laid back.

“Where’s Ash?” he asked Nathan.

“She wanted to take a quick nap before dinner tonight,” Nathan responded. “She was up almost all night with the kids. They were too excited to sleep.”

“Why weren’t you up with them?” Alana asked, peering at her uncle over her sunglasses.

“I was for a while!” Nathan said, putting his hands up in surrender. “I just sleep more soundly than she does, so when I got to sleep their giggling and talking didn’t wake me! I told her that I would’ve stayed up with them, too, if she had woke me.”

One of the kids splashed Nathan, both of them giggling evilly as their father exclaimed in shock. Nathan pushed off the edge of the pool and got in, causing the two kids to scream and swim away from him.

“It’s so fucking hot here,” Marshall muttered.

“That’s usually the appeal of the Dominican, dad,” Hailie teased.

“I know that, smart ass,” he retorted. “I’m just making a comment. It took me forever up in my room to cool down, and now I feel like I’m fucking melting again. At this rate I might just walk around the resort naked.”

Both of his daughters made noises of protest, which Marshall smiled at. 

Eventually, Stevie came down to join them by the pool as well, and Alana and Hailie’s fiancés decided to take up residence in the pool with Nathan. Marshall rested his head back against the chair, closing his eyes to block out the sun. His body felt like it was on fire again, but the lack of heavy clothing this time made it more bearable. He could get used to having constant sun like this.

It had to be a coincidence that when he opened his eyes and lifted his head again he saw (Y/N) walking at the other end of the pool. She wasn’t looking at them, she hadn’t made any sounds to draw attention to herself. He just opened his eyes and there she was. He walked her pick a vacant spot across from them to put her towel and her bag down. His eyes widened as he watched her pull her dress over her head, revealing the two piece bikini she was wearing underneath.

“Who are you staring at?” Hailie asked.

Marshall jumped. He wasn’t sure how long he had been staring at (Y/N), but it was obviously long enough for it to be noticeable. He really hoped she hadn’t seen him.

Hailie followed his eyeline and smirked when she got the answer to his question. “She’s pretty.”

“We’ve run into each other a few times already,” Marshall said, trying to cover his ass.

“I’m sure you have,” Hailie teased.

(Y/N) got into the pool and swam around in one spot for a while before she began to make her way towards where Marshall was sat. He sat up quickly, although he wasn’t sure why. It would’ve made more sense for him to stay lounged back. Now he just looked like he was very eager to see her.

Which he was, but she didn’t have to know that.

(Y/N) swam up and leaned against the edge of the pool in front of the three. “Okay, we have to stop meeting like this.”

Marshall chuckled. “I’m not saying this was planned, but I did tell you I was coming out by the pool. Seems less than coincidental this time.”

“Oh, I assure you it was definitely all an accident,” she said. “I just also happened to be coming down to the pool. Totally forgot you said you’d be here too.”

They were both smiling at one another and Marshall forgot the world around them. He even forgot his own two daughters next to him, until he heard one of them clear their throats. When he looked over, they were both watching the scene with an amused smile on their faces.

“These are my daughters, Hailie and Alana,” he said. “Girls, this is (Y/N).”

“Nice to meet you,” (Y/N) said.

“You too,” Alana said.

“Hey, (Y/N), do you have any plans tonight?” Hailie asked. Marshall looked over at her in confusion.

(Y/N) shook her head. “No. Just enjoying the spot while I can.”

“Dad wanted to try the restaurant here at the resort, but we’re all pretty tired from the travel and all the sun. Maybe you two could go together.”

Marshall had to stop himself from whipping around in his chair to look at Hailie in disbelief. He tried to keep his cool, but suddenly his heart was pounding against his chest and the heat was feeling more suffocating than it had before.

(Y/N) looked up at Hailie, then to Marshall. A smile was tugging at the corners of her lips. “That sounds nice. What time should I meet you down there?”

“Uh, I guess...around 6 should be okay,” Marshall said.

(Y/N) nodded. “That sounds good to me.”

She pushed away from the edge and went back to swimming around in the pool. Hailie looked proud of herself as she laid back in her chair again, ignoring the questions and protests from her father.

But Marshall couldn’t lie, he was very excited to get some one on one time with (Y/N).

~~~~~~

The girls explained the change of plan to Nathan, their fiancés, and to Stevie, all of which seemed very okay with the idea.

“I can take Ash on a date night instead,” Nathan said. “We won’t sit anywhere near you guys though, bro, don’t worry about that.”

So, with this sudden date in place, Marshall found himself digging through his suitcase to find anything that could be considered more “formal attire”. He hadn’t planned to meet anyone on the resort this way. He didn’t think there would be anyone he would have to impress. None of the clothes he packed seemed to do the trick, but he didn’t have much time left till he was supposed to meet (Y/N). He had to pick something, so he grabbed another pair of shorts and a plain t-shirt.

(Y/N) was waiting in front of the restaurant as Marshall exited the elevator. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when he saw she was also wearing a pair of shorts and a tank top. Nothing too formal, but something good enough for a surprise date.

“Hey,” Marshall said, getting her attention.

She turned and smiled. “Hey. I see you have a shirt this time.”

Marshall chuckled. “Yeah, I’m hoping the restaurant is air conditioned. Otherwise, I might get kicked out for stripping down if I get too warm.”

(Y/N) laughed at his joke, which sounded like music to his ears.

They walked in and were promptly seated at an empty table. The place wasn’t close to being full by any means, but it was still pretty busy. Marshall figured the resort had no problems staying busy at all times of the year. It was a beautiful spot, decently affordable and, besides that one rough patch when he had come to check in, the staff were very nice. He would love to come back again. Especially if this date with (Y/N) worked out.

They engaged in the usual small talk, getting to learn more about one another now that they were actually able to have some alone time together. Marshall was open with (Y/N) about his celebrity status - which luckily had not interfered with the vacation so far. To his surprise, (Y/N) admitted she had no idea that he was famous.

“I’m not into that kind of music,” she said. “No offence or anything, it’s just not my scene. I’m very much a pop and/or rock type of person.”

Hearing her say that felt like a weight had been lifted from Marshall’s chest that he didn’t even know had been there. There was always that small worry that he was getting into a relationship with someone who saw him more as Eminem the rapper than as Marshall Mathers the person. But (Y/N) seemed genuine about now knowing who he was, which made him feel like he could really relax for the rest of the night.

The night was going by very smoothly. Marshall found himself really falling for this woman in a way he hadn’t in a very long time. He worried that maybe it was happening too fast considering the fact they had only met for the first time that day, but then again there was a chance this relationship was also fleeting.

Which was something that had to be brought up eventually, and both of them knew it.

During a lull in their conversation, (Y/N) was the one to ask first, “So...what happens at the end of the week when you go back to Detroit and I go back to my home?”

Marshall sighed. “I didn’t really want to bring it up.”

“I didn’t either,” she admitted. “I’ve been having such a good time, I don’t really want to think about that future.”

Marshall thought for a moment before saying, “Would you be willing to do long distance if we had to?”

She nodded. “Of course. I’ll give anything a try, honestly.”

“I think...I could come see you. That would be easier to do than you coming to Detroit since you have your career and everything there. I can come see you and stay with you for some time, and next time you can get a prolonged time off work you could come visit me in Detroit. But the times in between...we’re just going to have to trust that we can do long distance for as long as we need to.”

(Y/N) reached across the table to slip her hand into his. “I think we can do that.”

Marshall gave her hand a squeeze. “I don’t want this to come off as me trying to push things too quickly between us. We only met for the first time today, we’ve only gone on one date. If you don’t want things to continue past here, I totally understand and I can respect that.”

She smiled and giggled. “If this were any other scenario, I think I would be more worried about going too fast and whatnot. But right now...I don’t know. I feel different with you. From the moment I saw you in the lobby, I feel like there was a connection between us that would be a waste not to explore it. Like you said, even if this doesn’t continue past the end of both of our vacations, at least we gave it a try.”

Marshall smiled. “Yeah, that sounds good to me.”

(Y/N) picked up her glass and raised it towards him. “To giving it a try.”

He chuckled and tapped his glass against hers. “To giving it a try.”